“We wanted a program that would address anti-bullying by addressing what happens to make a child bully,” Martin said.

Project TEAM uses a pyramid to give students a strong support structure where the individual students are at the top, then the classroom, the grade level, the school and at the bottom the community — all working together to support the students.

Student leadership is also a focus for the program, but not how many might think.

“This isn’t about student government,” Martin said.

Part of the program involves finding students who have the potential to be good leaders and bringing that potential out with specialized instruction.

Showing growth

The program came out of its first year of use in the district in Mowrey with positive results.

“Office referrals are down 10 percent last year after a previously increasing trend,” Martin said.

Other perks of the program included smoother assemblies and a common vocabulary among the students.

All elementary schools in the district will be joining Mowrey in Project TEAM starting in the 2014-15 school year.